Joe Gandara

Updated on Jan 09, 2024

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Years of service 1943–1944 Battles and wars World War II Battles/wars World War II		Name Joe Gandara Rank Private Died June 9, 1944 Awards Medal of Honor

Born April 25, 1924 Santa Monica, California ( 1924-04-25 ) Allegiance United States of America Unit 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Service/branch United States Army

Joe Gandara (April 25, 1924 – June 9, 1944) was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Joe Gandara httpswwwarmymile2rv5imagesmedalofhonorva

Gandara was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award came through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.

Joe Gandara Joe Gandara 1924 1944 Find A Grave Memorial

Biography

Gandara, who was the son of Mexican immigrants, joined the Army from Los Angeles in February 1943.

Joe Gandara Photo of Medal of Honor Recipient Joe Gandara

According to Gandara's U.S. Army's biography:

Gandara was born in Santa Monica, Calif., April 25, 1924. Gandara was bestowed the Medal of Honor to recognize his heroic actions on June 9, 1944, in Amfreville, France. His detachment came under devastating enemy fire from a strong German force, pinning the men to the ground for a period of four hours. Gandara advanced voluntarily and alone toward the enemy position and destroyed three hostile machine-guns before he was fatally wounded. Gandara received the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star and Bronze Arrowhead Device, Presidential Unit Citation, French Fourragere (Couleur à préciser), Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge-Basic with one Bronze Service Star.

Joe Gandara Obama to award 24 Medals of Honor Center of Military History

References

Joe Gandara Wikipedia

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